Obama Decides On A Portuguese Dog Portuguese water dog becomes America's First Pet Barack Obama has promised and will deliver. To thank them for their patience during the federal election campaign, the 44th president of the United States got his daughters a dog. He wasn't sure what breed the future First Dog would be, but it was to be either a “Labradoodle” (Labrador retriever-poodle mix) or a Portuguese water dog. The Portuguese water dog originated in the region of Algarve in southern Portugal. Now however numerous examples of the breed can be found abroad, in other European countries and in the United States and Canada. Also known as the fisherman's dog, the Portuguese water dog is gentle, loyal, and extremely obedient, capable of forging strong bonds with its owner. Its hair makes it ideal for people with allergies, like Obama's older daughter Malia. This four-legged creature is friendly and gets along well with children, has boundless energy, and is always ready to play. A dog that loves water, it was a good helper and invaluable companion to Portuguese navigators during the Age of Discovery 500 years ago, frequently serving as a messenger. ______________________________ Also known as the fisherman's dog, the Portuguese water dog is gentle, loyal, and extremely obedient. ______________________________ Later the Portuguese water dog became the friend of the craft fisherman, always ready to jump in the water to point out shoals of fish and sharks and to bring back fish that had escaped from the nets. It was also used to retrieve cords and other objects that had fallen into the water from fishing boats. The dog was seen as the seaman's best and most trusted companion. At present the breed is being trained for search and rescue missions in rivers and oceans. These dogs love to swim, whether in calm lakes or choppy seas, and do so very well. The Portuguese water dog is a medium-sized breed. The males stand between 50 and 57 centimetres, while the females are always less than 52 centimetres. They have two coats, one long and wavy and the other short and curly. Though Portuguese water dogs can adjust to all kinds of environments, they prefer open spaces. They can be black, brown or white in colour and make excellent guard dogs. This article first appeared in O Milenio Stadium, a Toronto-based Portuguese newspaper www.omileniostadium.com. Thank you to editor Alexandre Franco for permission to use. Go to Urban Mozaik Magazine This website: Copyright © 2009 Dream World Media, LLC. / Urban Mozaik Magazine. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in Urban Mozaik Magazine are not necessarily those of Urban Mozaik Magazine and the publisher cannot be held responsible for them. This website/publication, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.